CHRISTIANSTED — The National Crime Prevention Council has designated the month of October as Crime Prevention Month. The theme for 2018 is “Celebrating communities that are making a difference.”
The Virgin Islands Police Department’s Crime Prevention Bureau said it “will acknowledge and celebrate the practice of crime prevention, while promoting awareness of important issues such as victimization, volunteerism and creating safer, more caring communities.”
The Crime Prevention Bureau territory-wide has outlined a host of activities that will be conducted throughout the month and beyond.
One of our first events is called “Bush Tea with a COP” which is being held in St. Croix. This initiative is conducted all over the United States and is known as “Coffee with a COP.” As we are using our island flavor, we have substituted coffee for bush tea.
“Bush Tea with a COP” has no agendas or speeches, just a chance to ask questions, voice concerns and get to know the officers in your neighborhood.
VIPD Commissioner Delroy Richards and Crime Prevention Bureau Director Jacqueline Freeman invites the public and both Sworn and Civilian personnel to attend this social gathering on Saturday, October 13, 2018 at “Twin City Café” next to Sonia’s Bracelet in Christiansted.
“Come out and meet your community officers,” VIPD spokesman Glen Dratte said.
Coffee with A Cop first started in Hawthorne, California in 2011 after a brainstorming session.
Members of the Hawthorne Police Department were looking for ways to interact more successfully with the people they served each day.
The Hawthorne Police Department hit upon a simple plan to break through the barriers that have been built over the years – a cup of coffee.
In less than five years, Coffee with a Cop events have been hosted in all 50 states and is one of the most successful community-oriented policing programs across the country.
The program has also expanded to outside the Unites States to Canada, Europe, Australia, and Africa and now the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The key to Coffee with a Cop’s growing success is that it opens the door for interactions outside of the crisis situations that typically bring law enforcement officers and community members together.
On Saturday October 13, 2018 VIPD officers will be hosting “Bush Tea with a cop,” at the Twin City Cafe in Christiansted from 8:30 a.m., to 11:00 a.m.
The community is invited to attend and share a cup of bush tea with an officer and talk as part of national Crime Prevention Month.
The Bush Tea with a Cop community outreach program began in the Virgin Islands on June 13 in St. Thomas.
